Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-05-26
THE EFFICACY or PkAYFH,



Judge England while acting as ad-
juster for an Insurance Company went
to settle . small loss on household
goods sustained by policy-holder in
his company. Before he called on the
man, he learned that he and his family
were members ofthe Methodist church
aud very upright sort of people, so the
Judge looked forward 10 an easy set.
tlement as he doubted not that they
would be willing to do what was fair
and he knew that he was himself
ready to allow all that was really due
1t might also be mentioned right here
that the Judge has not. 30 far in lite,
connected himself with any church
organization,
He called at the mans house and
after some preliminary conversation
said:
"Well. Mr.. Wilcox, we might as
well make out list of the things
burned or damaged. Just mention
some of them and l will note them
down, and ! think we can agree on
this matter very readily"
"Well, there was a silk dress for
one thing" replied the man.
"Yes-how much was it WORTH"
'Seventy five dollars"
"Ah, UNI, Mr., Wilcox,-expensive
dress"
at was" interposed Mrs. Wilcox,
l''it was my wedding dress and cost
$125. l wouldn't have taken $500 tor
it."
"Er, yes, very likely, anything
else2"
"There was sewing machine
worth 500"
Sixty dollars, eh2 Now you see
sewing machines have more fixed
value than silk dresses. / can get the
best sewing machine made for $35."
"Not one like ours. 1t cost $50.
and was worth every cent OF $60-I
couldn't think Of taking any less"
said Mr.. Wilcox.
Pass it for now-give me some
thing else."
"Parlor organ injured fully 500
ORTIZ"
II can get pretty good new one
for that amount"
Not like ours, mister" said one of
the large girls; ait cost $3.50"
Cant allow you SO much, Pm
afraid. What elscg"
Il lost suit of Clothes" said Mr.
Wilcox, worth 80"
Now look here, my friend, l don't
believe your clothes cost that much,"
returned the Judge, beginning to get
warmed up.
II tell you they did; they cost $50
and Pm not going to let any insurance
company beat me out of it, either
You just do this thing fair or get out
and III sue your company"
That's right, Henry" said his wife,
were not going to let any travelling
insurance agent beat us out of what
belongs to u.s."
The children appeared to look at it
in the same way, and the Judge didn't
see much encouragement, when plan
suddenly struck him.
"Brother Wilcox" h. said, solemn
ly, 1--WE must ask tor help in this mat
ter"
"What?" said Brother Wilcox, look
ing at him.
Il say we must make this business a
matter of prayer. You and your ex.
cellent wife here belong to The Metho-
dist church, l believer
"Yes sir-do your"
81 have been a member of that
church FOR thirty years. Let us pray
and see II our way does not become
more clear in the matter"
So they all knelt down, and the
Judge led in prayer. He could not
remember having done such thing
tumbled down an old well while he
was boy, but he speedily got the
hang of it. He struck in on the
heather in foreign lands, made a
touching appeal Tor the sick and needy,
remembered distant friends, touched
ON the church and church extension in
the west, and wound up with an APP
peal for the little band who had gath
cred together to adjust certain insur-
ance loss. The Judge grew very i'm.
pressive and asked for strength for
himsel II and his good brother and his
|devout sister and also their children,
that they might adjust the loss even as
it should be adjusted; that they might
al! know the true price of silk dresses
and sewing machines and store clothes
He ended in a particularly touching
manner, his voice trembling, and
when they arose tears stood in the eyes
OF the entire party. Wilcox grasped
the Judges hand, pressed it ferYently
and said;
Brother England, let US begin
again."
"Yes, let us begin again, Brother"
returned the Judge.
"Now the dress flrst. Maria, was it
the calico or the ginghamp" asked Will
cox OF his wife.
"lt-it--it was the calico, Henry"
Zone calico dress, Brother Eng
and"
worth about forty cents, Brother
Wilcox"
MOT more than that, was it,
Maria?"
Not more than thirty, Henry, l
had worn it all summer"
DRESS, thirty cents; go on, Brother
Wilcox"
"The sewing machine got the leaf
broken olive had it fixed for half a
dollar"
"Sewing machine, fifty cents; go on,
Brother"
1.-The organ was scorched on one
'end-what did the varnish cost,
Susie?"
Fifteen cents, pa"
"Organ fifteen cents-proceed,
Brother?"
"Suit of clothes-well, it's these that
l have on-the coat sleeve got wet"
at didn't damage it much. did IL.